Daily Update On Current Affairs – October 12, 2017

At a function in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Sakshatra Abhiyan. The objective of PMGDISHA is to make 6 cr households digitally literate by the year 2019. This will make it one of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world.

Jagdish Mukhi has sworn in as Governor of Assam

On 10th October 2017, Jagdish Mukhi has sworn in as the Governor of Assam, replacing Banwarilal Purohit who has moved as the Governor of Tamil Nadu. He has held several important positions including being a Minister for Finance in the Delhi Government.

Nisha Biswal appointed as President of USIBC

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal has been appointed as the President of the US India Business Council. USBIC is a forum of US businesses and is a part of the US Chamber of Commerce which is the largest industry body in the USA. It is also dedicated to improving the business relationship between India and the USA.

Axis Bank acquires Mobile Wallet Freecharge

Axis Bank Ltd has recently completed the acquisition of mobile wallet firm Freecharge and appointed Sangram Singh as its CEO. He has replaced Jason Kothari. Freecharge presently has a revenue of about Rs 80 crore. Snapdeal had bought Freecharge in April 2015 for an estimated $400 million or over Rs 2,500 crore at current rates.

Visa ties up with Andhra Pradesh Government

Visa has tied up with the Andhra Pradesh government for Digital Dhan Sankalp project. It is an initiative to develop Visakhapatnam into India’s first ‘less cash’ city. The e-transformation of large state-owned service providers of the state into digital payments mode under the Vizag Digital Dhan Sankalp (VDDS) project is now accessible to over 90 percent of the city’s two million-strong population.

SBI to set up the country’s largest Innovation Centre in Mumbai

The country’s largest Bank, State Bank of India is setting up a Rs 100 Cr innovation centre in Mumbai shortly. The centre will be built at its Global IT hub in Belapur, Navi Mumbai. It will be the largest innovation centre by any financial services company in India. The Innovation Centre will have 40 dedicated zones for each technology like artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain etc.

Anupam Kher appointed Chairman of FTII

Actor Anupam Kher has been appointed the new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), located in Pune. He succeeds former television actor Gajendra Chauhan. Mr. Kher has appeared in over 500 films and has been part of the theatre circles. He has previously held the post of chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama.

Madhu Valli wins “Miss India Worldwide 2017” Contest

Indian-origin Madhu Valli has won the ‘Miss India Worldwide’ 2017 title. Stephanie Madavane from France was declared runner-up at the beauty pageant held in New Jersey. Sangeeta Bahadur from Guyana took the third spot at the pageant that had contestants from 18 countries.

FIFA Suspends Pakistan Football Federation

FIFA has decided to suspend the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect in accordance with the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council on account of undue third-party interference. The national and club teams will not be allowed to take part in international competitions till the suspension is lifted. FIFA suspended PFF since its accounts were in control of a court-appointed administrator, which is against FIFA rules. The suspension will be lifted when the body becomes independent.

Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Hearth became the first left-arm spinner to take 400 Test wickets. All the other spinners who are above him in the list are right-hand bowlers. Hearth achieved this feat in the Test against Pakistan played last week.